Friday, February 25th, 2011 at 8:50 am  |  134 responses

Post Up: Right Behind Ya

Bulls pull within two games of Heat; Nuggets upset Celts.

by Adam Figman | @afigman

Chicago 93, Miami 89

With two groups that (intentionally or not) stayed relatively quiet before yesterday’s trade deadline, this was one of the few possible match-ups that could’ve been played last night without a major or minor addition having to sit out. Before yesterday, the Bulls were seated only a few of games behind the East’s “elite”—the Celts and the Heat—and still needed to prove themselves against those two before we can really take them seriously as a Championship contender.

Well, this proof enough? Chicago stayed within elbow’s reach of Miami during the first half, then jumped ahead in the third before clawing for the win in the fourth. Late in the final quarter, a powerful LeBron James and-1 evened things up with 37 ticks remaining, but on the ensuing possession, Derrick Rose (26 points, 6 dimes) found an open Luol Deng (20 points, 10 boards) in the corner, and Deng sank the 3 without thought. With 16 seconds left, the Heat inbounded at halfcourt, and LeBron bricked a top-of-the-key J that would’ve tied it. (Does that answer your “Who takes the final shot?” question?) DWade led the Heat with 34, but I think the real lesson is an obvious one: The Bulls are very much for real. Proceed accordingly.

Denver 89, Boston 75

We probably should’ve seen this coming. The Celts, reportedly furious with the loss of ex-teammate Kendrick Perkins, didn’t seem too focused on actual basketball, while the Nuggets, fresh off a victory sans-Melo and with the new guys all eligible to play, seem to have picked up some “We can do this”-type momentum. The two were neck-and-neck for the first 44 or so minutes, but a Wilson Chandler (16 points) three-pointer sparked a game-ending, home crowd-influenced 16-0 run—not all by Chandler. Kenyon Martin led Denver with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Paul Pierce led Boston with only 17. You’d think the low score would be good for the Celtics, who thrive in a defensive-minded dogfight, but the lack of points was more the result of poor play than tough D. The C’s now head west to L.A., where they’ll take on Blake Griffin and friends.

Last Call: Chris Bosh was 1-18 from the field, scoring 7 and delivering arguably the worst shooting performance anyone has put up all season. (Gotta be, right?) Carlos Boozer did get him pretty good on the nose here, but there’s no denying Bosh did some acting work to draw the foul. Even Reggie Miller was impressed.

  • Add a Comment
  • Share
  • RSS

Tags: , , , ,

← Older Comments
  • http://nobulljive.com/ Enigmatic

    Of course, nbk. The Heat beat themselves. It couldn’t possibly be because the Bulls played much better defense in the second half and Rose and Deng stepped their games up in the second half.
    Word?

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    If Chris Bosh shot 4 for 18 the Heat win. And their bench had 2 points, they beat themselves.

  • Pharoah

    Now we know why LBJ always passes up shots in the clutch. Didn’t even hit rim.

  • http://slamonline.com Kap

    Hindsight is 20/20…

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Oh and that Eddie House turnover late in the 4th quarter that resulted in an And-1, that also was not because of Chicago’s defense.

  • T-Money

    a bit of both – the bulls are an incredible defensive team but miami missed tons of open looks (especially bosh and house). miami is a jump shooting team, they need to knock down open looks. / bcrawford: miller was made available for nenê or dalembert. i think that’s understandable. they didn’t want to ship him out per se, but if you look at the roster he’s about the only tradeable asset.

  • Bruno

    if this or if that, hate that sh!t … bulls won last night period

  • http://nobulljive.com/ Enigmatic

    And if Derrick Rose shot 13 for 24, Bosh’s 4 for 18 would have been negated.
    And if the refs had actually called some damn fouls when Rose was getting mugged, it wouldn’t have been as close.
    And if Michael Jordan hadn’t retired to play baseball, he woulda had 8 chips.
    And if Len Bias hadn’t passed, the Celtics woulda won more chips too.
    And if Magic Johnson didn’t have to retire due to HIV he’d be the all-time assists leader.
    And if an if was a spliff we’d be all f*cked up.
    Word to Keith Murray.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    except Bosh’s 1-18 is the worst game in 28 years, which is realistic to say if he shot 4-18 cuz that would still be horrendous. But you can get mad, it doesn’t really prove anything, just like the rest of what you said, the Heat beat themselves, its plainly obvious, The Bulls also won, I would say they each equally attributed to the outcome. Miami didn’t earn a close game loss, just a loss.

  • http://slamonline.com Kap

    @nbk…the same goes for the bulls. Taj Gibson missed two bk to bk layups and fouled someone during a foul shot that resulted in shots. Every team has unforced errors. Its part of the game. Bulls won because they play tough D, they rebound, and they play a team game. I’m disappointed in you my friend.

  • http://slamonline.com Bryan Crawford

    I agree that he’s the only tradable asset, but I think it’s obvious that he hasn’t made the impact that the team expected him to and the team was willing to part with him, for the right situation, obviously.
    That’s not saying they want to ship him out, but he’s been a disappointment thus far and they tried to get something better.
    I just think you’re largely overstating his value/importance. A few months ago you had a stronger argument. Now, not so much.
    He’s been awful.

  • http://slamonline.com The Fresh Prince of Nsam

    What up Jimmy (the balla) nice 2 hear from u, take gd care of yaself dawg

  • JTaylor21

    Enigmatic, enough with the cries about Rose not getting any “love” from the refs, dude has been to the line 24 times in the past 2gms. Just stop slime!

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Never said the bulls played a perfect game, or even that well to be honest, just that the Heat were horrendous, which they were. LeBron and Wade scored what, every point in the second half but 3? And they still almost won, that’s not a good look for Chicago. Unless ofcourse you think its ok to barely beat a team that has a player with the worst individual performance in almost 30 years and act like you earned it. It doesn’t take anything away from Chicago to say Miami beat themselves, Chicago is still a top tier team in the East, if you have played the sport, you know teams beat themselves all the time.

  • http://nobulljive.com/ Enigmatic

    Oh, as opposed to Wade who got to the line 24 times last night?

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    the refs called the game fair, crappy on both sides. blaming the refs for anything that happen or could have happened in the game is whack, they are refs they don’t put the ball in the hoop.

  • JTaylor21

    What does this have to do with Wade? Don’t blame him, blame those sorry a** refs.

  • http://nobulljive.com/ Enigmatic

    I thought I was blaming those sorry a** refs??

  • http://www.slamonline.com Eboy

    As opposed to Lebron, who took what, 5 free throws?

  • JTaylor21

    You’re “preaching to the choir” when you complain about Rose not getting calls. Everyone on here feels the same way about the refs; we know it’s a hard job but at least be consistent with it. There’s nothing we can do about, just bite the bullet, continue watching the games and hope that one day DStern realizes that 60yr olds shouldn’t be reffing 25 yr olds.

  • http://nobulljive.com/ Enigmatic

    True.
    nbk, still not sold on Asik? 11 rebounds in 20 minutes last night.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Asik did work last night, very impressed. I don’t think he helps them win anything with Bogans but i understand keeping him, he’s gonna be a good player.

  • JTaylor21

    Asik is nice, he’s a big body who rebounds and challenges shots well. Sounds like a player MIA is in dire need of, how bout trade MMiller, a patch of Riley’s hair and a bottle of Zo’s tough juice to Chicago for him?

  • http://www.slamonline.com Eboy

    How about just coaxing Zo out of retirement? I saw him a week ago…..he’s in fantastic shape.

  • http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/load-o-bull/2011 Diesel

    Denver is better than I thought they would be after this trade. They have 2 legitimate starters at each position. They’re going to give one of those top 4 teams some problems in the playoffs.

  • http://nobulljive.com/ Enigmatic

    I’m sure if Riley also offered Gar Forman one or two of his trademark Armani suits, Foreman might just budge on that deal. And he could really use that patch of hair too…

  • http://thetroyblog.com Teddy-the-Bear

    The Bulls MUST have been high on Asik if they refused Courtney Lee for him.. That’s a good thing for the Rockets.

  • http://sdfklf.com Jukai

    Honestly, the Heat have done everything I’ve told them to do on that big bad list I had out after being turned off from watching their first few games… so outside of putting in Joel Anthony and getting outrebounded hardcore instead of playing their seven foot four center for 10, 15 minutes, the Heat are just getting beat. Mike Miller didn’t play, but he hasn’t had a strong impact. Bosh had a terrible game, but so did Rose, and Lebron/Wade should have just stopped FEEDING Bosh and took it to the hole. The Heat had unforced turnovers but they do that every game.
    Sorry, Chicago beat the Heat. The Heat didn’t come close to beating themselves. They didn’t play uncharacteristic of themselves at all.
    Also, is it really a good idea to bring Haslem back after missing so much time?

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    Derrick Rose had 26 & 6 jukai bosh had 7 WTF are you thinking comparing the two? And Miami will add a buy-out player, Haslem is ofcourse a good idea to bring back why is that even a question, he’s gonna mess up the heats rhythm from when Joel Anthony is in the game? Haha come on, and Miller has been up and down, he has had a positive impact, not really shooting but that one game and a couple buckets here and there, but rebounding and providing general hustle he has made a difference. And if you don’t think having two players score 95% of your points in a half is uncharacteristic then are you only watching them in 2k?

  • Big Pugg

    The Bulls played the night before& Noah’s second game back from injury and still getting his form back…while MIA’s Bosh shot 1-18. I say the bulls look even scarier in the playoffs. Stop saying the heat would’ve won if bosh went 4-18..he fact is the bulls or heat didny play gteat..
    Its a tough dogfight type of basketball in the playoffs and chitown just proved that they are built to win in the postseason

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    2:54pm

  • http://sdfklf.com Jukai

    NBK: I disagree with you about a lot. I don’t think the Heat will score a buyout player (Murphy is going to the Celts, Jeffries is going to the the Knicks, no point guards are going to be bought out… I mean, rumors are floating that Pryzbilla will be bought out but I see no proof of that). Bringing a guy like Haslem back when he hasn’t played for months and the team is still trying to find a good-chemistry lineup doesn’t make sense to me, ESPECIALLY if he is played at center. Miami is having rebounding trouble and low-post issues, and a stamina-impaired, 6’8 rusty jump shooting power forward isn’t going to help, ESPECIALLY not in the playoffs where every single playoff team is big this year (EXCEPT for Boston… their trade probably helped Miami more than anyone).
    Derrick Rose shot 37%, not exactly characteristic, but Taj Gibson was equally as awful as Bosh (2-8 missing wide layups and being obliterated on the boards), look the bottom line is Chicago didn’t play a great game and they still won.
    Mike Miller has had his good moments but they haven’t been good enough where it would really be used as an excuse anymore. On average, he brings you what, 7 points and 5 rebounds? Wowzers. Not saying that Miller spreading the floor and boarding wouldn’t have turned the tides as the Heat only lost by three points, but missing Mike Miller REALLY can’t be used as a huge excuse anymore. He hasn’t had the impact that you and T-Money figured he would.
    I don’t even agree with you about the Wade/Lebron thing. This is how they’ve won most of the games they’ve played: they score 65% of the points. Their teammates have failed them constantly.
    Wow, actually I don’t think I agreed with anything you’ve said, haha.

  • http://sdfklf.com Jukai

    Do I think Chicago -will- beat Miami in a seven games series? No.
    Do I think the possibility of Chicago beating Miami in a seven games series is high enough that saying things like “oh Bosh wasn’t at full strength!” and “we didn’t have Mike Miller!” is silly? Yes.
    Chicago likes to pack it in, prevent fast breaks, and rebound. These things HURT Miami. I like seeing Big Z and Damp split minutes though, that made me happy.

  • paul

    I wouldn’t call the Cs loss to Denver an upset. Right now, it’s impossible to know who the Celtics are as a team, how good they can be, or how bad they may turn out to be. Basically, the next couple of weeks are going to be like preseason for the Celtics, as they revamp on the fly.

← Older Comments
Advertisement